Have you ever really thought about what being “Born of the Spirit” or “Born Again” means? Many people think to be “Born Again” simply means being baptized with water or being able to speak in tongues. And the phrase often applied to Christians is “Born Again Christians”. However, this is not the case. Being “Born Again” or “Born of the Spirit” means more than that, a whole lot more! Follow with me as we explore what the Bible says about being “Born Again” or “Born of the Spirit”.
The Kingdom of God
“And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, ‘The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.’” (Luke 17:20-21) (Emphasis added)
God’s Kingdom is a state of being, within an individual. It is accessible only to the person expressing it and God. It is not a physical location like Paradise Jesus spoke of is.
When Jesus told the man on the cross next to Him, when they were both being crucified, that he would be with Him in Paradise that day, He referred to Paradise as a location, a place that could be occupied by more than one person at the same time.
“And Jesus said unto him, ‘Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.’” (Luke 23:43)
However, the Lord says the Kingdom of God is within us. Not an outside physical location. The “Kingdom of God” and being “Born of the Spirit” is one of our Lord’s first recorded teachings in the Bible. He made special note of it as He was talking with Nicodemus, a temple Pharisee teacher. Jesus indicated it as a basic foundational and important teaching. That teaching was of what is necessary to enter God’s Kingdom is being truly “Born of the Spirit”.
“Jesus answered, ‘Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.’” (John 3:5-8)
Born of the Spirit
Christ said a person “Born of the Spirit” is able to become invisible and come and go, or travel, like the wind, and you would not know where they came from or where they were going. And the Lord explained that unless one is truly “Born of the Spirit”, he could not enter the kingdom of God.
“Jesus answered and said unto him, ‘Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’ Jesus answered, ‘Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.’” (John 3:3 & 5) (Emphasis added)
Now let us think about this:
- Wind is invisible.
- We do not know where it comes from or where it goes.
- “Born Again” people can travel invisibly and, seemingly, very swiftly. When they show up again, they are in a completely different place.
- Jesus says when we are truly “Born of the Spirit”, we can do these same things.
Many claim to be “Born of the Spirit”. However, they do not fit the description given by our Lord. They cannot come and go (travel) as the wind. Christ could:
“Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself (became invisible), and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.” (John 8:50)
“Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand, and went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode”. (John 10:39-40)
And, we are to follow Him.
“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” (Luke 9:23)
We are to do what He did.
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.” (John 14:12)
We are to be like Him.
“For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.” (John 13:15)
“For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that we should follow in his steps:” (1 Peter 2:21)
Again, He truly demonstrated the ability to travel like the wind while invisible.
“And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong. But he passing through the midst of them went his way, And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the Sabbath days.” (Luke 4:28-31)
Also, others of his followers could do what Jesus said was an ability of those who were “Born of the Spirit”—become invisible and travel like the wind as told in the scriptures about Phillip.
“And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.” (Acts 8:36-40)
Now after Jesus explained being “Born of the Spirit” to Nicodemus, he asked Jesus, “How can these things be?” Our Lord answered, Are you a teacher of Israel and do not know these things?
“Jesus answered and said unto him, ‘Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?’” (John 3:10-12)
Christ does not lie. He is the truth. (Emphasis added)
“Jesus saith unto him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.’” (John 14:6) (Emphasis added)
Now, having read all this, have you considered why you may not have heard it before or have heard it with a different perspective which does not include or explain all that our Lord Jesus said about “truly” being born of the Spirit? (Emphasis added.) Have we missed these teachings as Christ presented them, or have they been purposefully excluded? Omitted or so covered with man’s interpretations and man’s precepts until our Christian doctrine does not include them anymore, at least not as Christ taught them?
If Jesus said we could, and He is the truth, we can truly be “Born of the Spirit” and enter into the Kingdom of God, then we can become invisible and travel like the wind!
Hmmmm. Definitely something to seriously think about and look into.
— Christa
All scripture taken from the KJV Bible.
